Written Answers Nos 65-85
65. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection why a person (details supplied) was informed that a person would receive arrears of €1,000 and then of €2,700, and was then informed that no arrears were due; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46594/15]
View answerThe person concerned submitted an application for state pension (transition) in May 2008. The pension was awarded with effect from 1 March 2008. The decision notification which issued on 22 July 2008, outlined that pension arrears (if due to be paid), would issue shortly thereafter. Social Welfare legislation requires that, in the first instance, due state pension arrears must be reconciled against any overlapping scheme payments the applicant may have received over the same period. In this case, the due pension arrears were offset against the total jobseeker’s benefit paid to the person and the increase for qualified adult paid on their spouse’s state pension (contributory) during the relevant period.
The available pension arrears did not fully cover the amount due to be recovered by the Department for the aforementioned payments and accordingly no balance of pension arrears remained due to the person concerned. It is regretted that the person concerned was incorrectly informed that pension arrears were due, and the Department apologises for this error.
66. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of disability payments to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46601/15]
View answerIllness benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. Following a change announced in Budget 2014 a customer is not entitled to illness benefit for the first 6 days of any period of incapacity for work.
The person concerned made a claim to illness benefit from 14 December 2015 and returned to work on 21 December 2015. The person concerned had no entitlement to payment of illness benefit as the period of incapacity for work was less than 6 days. My department has no plans to reverse this amendment to the illness benefit scheme.
67. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to confirm the status of the Christmas bonus (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46603/15]
View answerIllness Benefit is classed as a short term payment. The Christmas bonus does not apply to short term payments and, therefore, the person concerned has no entitlement to the bonus.
68. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an application from a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the carer's allowance scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46608/15]
View answerIt is a condition for receipt of a carer’s allowance (CA) that the person being cared for must have such a disability that they require full-time care and attention.
This is defined as requiring from another person, continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continuous supervision in order to avoid danger to him or herself and likely to require that level of care for at least twelve months.
I confirm that the department received an application for CA from the person concerned on 28 September 2015. The evidence submitted in support of this application was examined and the deciding officer decided that this evidence did not indicate that the full-time care requirement was satisfied.
The person concerned was notified on 2 November 2015 of this decision, the reason for it and of her right of review and appeal. The additional evidence submitted by you has been passed to a deciding officer for review. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome of that review. If the outcome is to confirm the original decision, the person concerned will retain the right of appeal to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
69. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an appeal under the jobseeker's allowance scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46612/15]
View answerI am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence, has decided to allow the appeal of the person concerned by way of a summary decision. The person concerned has been notified of the Appeals Officer’s decision.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
70. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views that it is fair or reasonable that reviews under the Domiciliary Care Allowance Scheme are taking three months to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46630/15]
View answerWhen a review of a domiciliary care allowance claim is requested all information provided is assessed and reviewed by a deciding officer. The deciding officer also requests a further medical assessor’s opinion to ensure that all relevant medical and other factors are fully considered in each case. While every effort is made to complete reviews as quickly as possible, the process takes time to complete and such reviews are currently taking 12 weeks to finalise.
A review of the decision in the case of the person concerned was requested on the 10th October 2015 and additional information on the child’s condition/care needs was supplied at that time. The application together with the new information supplied was forwarded to a medical assessor for a further professional opinion prior to being re-examined by a deciding officer.
The review of this application has now been completed. The deciding officer does not consider that a revised decision is warranted, as the child is not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance at this time. A letter outlining the position issued to the person concerned on the 7th January 2016.
71. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will support a matter (details supplied) regarding a carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46638/15]
View answerThere is no application for carer’s allowance (CA) from the person concerned which is currently awaiting a decision on eligibility.
The person concerned applied for CA on 11 November 2013. This application was refused on the grounds that the disability of the care recipient was not such that there was a requirement for full-time care and attention as prescribed in regulations and also that the applicant was working outside the home for more than 15 hours per week and was not providing full-time care and attention.
The person concerned was notified on 25 January 2014 of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right of review and appeal.
The person concerned appealed this decision and the case was submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office for determination. An appeals officer (AO), having fully considered all of the available evidence, disallowed the appeal.
The person concerned was notified on the 28 November 2014 of the AO’s decision and the reasons for it.
Under Social Welfare legislation, the decision of an AO is final and conclusive and may only be reviewed in the light of relevant additional evidence or new facts. It is open to the person concerned to submit a new application for CA so that her current eligibility may be determined.
72. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the names of the persons she has nominated to serve in positions carrying remuneration, other than out-of-pocket expenses, on commissions, industrial, assurance, semi-State or other similar concerns; the amounts received annually in respect of each appointment; the name of the concern to which the appointment was made during the years 2011 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46665/15]
View answerThis scope of this question is taken to encompass the statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection. These bodies are the Citizens Information Board, the Pensions Authority, (formerly the Pensions Board), the Pensions Council, the Pensions Ombudsman and the Social Welfare Tribunal.
The Pensions Ombudsman does not have a board. There is no remuneration for the members of the Pensions Council.
Details, as requested by the Deputy, relating to the nominations to the other boards in respect of which remuneration, other than out of office expenses, has been paid in the period 2011 to date, are given in the tables below.
Citizens Information Board
|
- |
Amount of Remuneration/Fees Received |
||||
|
Name of Board Member |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Ita Mangan (Chairperson) |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
€4,993 |
|
Eugene McErlean |
€1,902 |
€5,985 |
€5,985 |
€5,985 |
€5,985 |
|
Josephine Henry |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
€5,985 |
Pensions Authority (established on 7 March 2014 and previously known as the Pensions Board)
|
- |
Amount of Remuneration/Fees Received Annually |
||||
|
Name of Board Member |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Jane Williams (Chairperson) |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
€18,967 |
€20,520 |
Social Welfare Tribunal
|
- |
Amount of Remuneration/Fees Received Annually |
||||
|
Name of Board Member |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Colin Walker (Chairperson) |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
€493.42 |
n/a |
|
Don O’Higgins |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
€194.81 |
n/a |
|
Fergus Whelan |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
€194.81 |
n/a |
The Board of the Social Welfare Tribunal consists of a Chairperson and four ordinary members, two of whom are nominated by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and two by the Irish Business Employer Confederation (IBEC). Legislation provides that the four ordinary members of the Tribunal are appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the two bodies, ICTU and IBEC. The Chairperson is nominated by the Minister.
The Chairperson and ordinary members of the Tribunal only receive fees when a hearing or meeting is held.
73. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the bereavement grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46675/15]
View answerThe overall concern in recent Budgets has been to protect primary social welfare rates. Abolishing the bereavement grant provided an annual saving of €22 million. This allowed the Department to protect other more fundamental social welfare payments such as the State pension. Accordingly, I have no plans to reinstate the bereavement grant.
There are a range of supports available for people following bereavement which provide more significant support than the grant. These include a weekly-paid widow's, widower's or surviving civil partner’s (contributory and non-contributory) pension based on contributions or a means test, and a once-off widowed or surviving civil partner grant of €6,000 where there is a dependent child. A number of social welfare payments, including State pension continue in payment for six weeks following a death, and in Budget 2016 I increased the payment after death period to 12 weeks for carer’s allowance. Guardian payments are available where someone is looking after an orphaned child. A special funeral grant of €850 is paid where a person dies because of an accident at work or occupational disease.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, the Department of Social Protection may make a single exceptional needs payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off and unforeseen expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income. An application can be made under the ENP scheme for assistance with funeral and burial expenses. The assistance is toward the costs of the necessary basic requirements for a dignified funeral. However, there is no automatic entitlement to such a payment. An ENP is a means tested payment payable at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the individual applicant and that of the deceased person including any savings, property, insurance policies, etc. that would render the applicant or anybody else liable for the burial costs. The Department official will also consider if a bereavement grant is available from any other source including former employer, credit union or trade union.
75. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in Limerick by city and by county in receipt of disability allowance. [46705/15]
View answerAs at the end of December 2015, there were 6,195 persons with an address in County Limerick who were in receipt of disability allowance. A breakdown of this figure between Limerick City and Limerick County is not available.
76. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in Limerick by city, by county, in receipt of invalidity pension. [46706/15]
View answerInvalidity pension (IP) is a payment for people who are permanently incapable of work because of illness or incapacity and who satisfy the contribution conditions.
As of December 31, 2015 there were 3,242 recipients of IP residing in the county of Limerick, including Limerick city.
A separate figure for the number of IP recipients in Limerick city is not maintained.
77. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in Limerick by city, by county, in receipt of a blind pension. [46707/15]
View answerAccording to the Department’s records, there are forty eight customers who have an address in Limerick city and seven customers with an address in the county of Limerick currently in receipt of a Blind Persons Pension.
78. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in Limerick by city, by county, in receipt of disablement benefit. [46708/15]
View answerI can confirm that currently there are 920 people in receipt of Disablement Benefit in the County of Limerick.
A breakdown between the Limerick City and County is not available.
79. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of annual subscriptions to external membership bodies and groups her Department has including the cost and details. [46747/15]
View answerAnnual subscriptions to external membership bodies and groups, for which my Department as an entity is a member, are tabulated below. This does not include various professional bodies which staff members are members of.
|
Body |
2015 Membership Cost € |
|
Irish Centre for European Law |
76.00 |
|
Irish Institute of Pensions Management |
255.00 |
|
ESRI |
400.00 |
|
Total |
731.00 |
80. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of annual subscriptions to newspapers or magazines her Department has including the cost and details. [46748/15]
View answerThe total expenditure on newspapers for my Department for 2015 was €9,541.96.
Expenditure on magazine and journal subscriptions for 2015 was €12,604.53.
The following newspapers are delivered to my Department:
|
Delivered Monday to Saturday |
|
Irish Examiner x 4 |
|
Irish Times x 3 |
|
Irish Independent x 5 |
|
Irish Daily Mail x 3 |
|
Irish Daily Star x 2 |
|
Irish Mirror x1 |
|
Irish Sun x1 |
|
Financial Times x3 |
|
Delivered Sunday |
|
Sunday Independent x1 |
|
The Sunday Times x1 |
|
The Sunday Business Post x1 |
|
Irish Mail on Sunday x1 |
|
Sunday World x1 |
|
Irish Sunday Mirror x1 |
With regard to magazines and journals, 23 titles are received by my Department, as follows:
|
- |
Title |
|
1 |
Bar Review |
|
2 |
Critical Social Policy |
|
3 |
Compliance & Risk |
|
4 |
Data Protection Ireland |
|
5 |
The Economist |
|
6 |
European Journal of Social Security |
|
7 |
Evidence and Policy |
|
8 |
Fiscal Studies |
|
9 |
Harvard Business Review |
|
10 |
International Journal of Social Research |
|
11 |
Industrial Relations News |
|
12 |
Journal of European Social Policy |
|
13 |
Journal of Poverty and Social Justice |
|
14 |
Journal of Social Policy |
|
15 |
Journal of Social Security Law |
|
16 |
Juncture |
|
17 |
Local Economy |
|
18 |
Occupational Health at Work |
|
19 |
Pensions World |
|
20 |
Policy & Politics |
|
21 |
Social Policy and Administration |
|
22 |
Social Policy and Society |
|
23 |
Stubbs Gazette |
81. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the annual cost to her Department of advertisements placed on its behalf in newspapers, magazines, television and radio and social media. [46749/15]
View answerThe annual advertising costs to my Department for the period 2011 to 2015 are outlined in the following table:
|
Cost of Advertising |
Amount |
|
2011 |
€133,468 |
|
2012 |
€191,160 |
|
2013 |
€162,661 |
|
2014 |
€220,865 |
|
2015 |
€284,018 |
|
Total: |
€992,172 |
82. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when she will make a determination on an application under the Disability Allowance Scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46802/15]
View answerThe application, based upon the evidence submitted, was refused on medical grounds and the person in question was notified in writing of this decision on 6 January 2016. The person was also notified of his right to a review of this decision or to appeal it to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office.
83. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an application under the domiciliary care allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46804/15]
View answerAn application for domiciliary care allowance was received from the person concerned on the 19th June 2015. This application was not allowed as the child was not considered to satisfy the qualifying conditions for the allowance. A letter issued on 6 October 2015 outlining the decision of the deciding officer to refuse the allowance.
A review of this decision was requested on 9th November 2015. The application will be re-examined by a deciding officer and a revised decision will be made if warranted. The person concerned will be notified of the outcome of the review as soon as it is completed. Such reviews can take up to 12 weeks to complete at present.
84. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an entitlement to a Disability Allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46817/15]
View answerIllness benefit is a payment for people who cannot work due to illness and who satisfy the pay related social insurance (PRSI) contribution conditions. One of the PRSI conditions is that a person must have a minimum of 39 reckonable contributions paid or credited in the governing contribution year. Claims made in 2015 are governed by the 2013 tax year and only PRSI Classes A, E, H, and P are reckonable for illness benefit purposes.
The person concerned made a claim to illness benefit and this claim was received in my department on 24 Aug 2015. This claim was disallowed as the person concerned does not satisfy the above contribution criteria. The person concerned has been notified of this decision.
Disability Allowance is a weekly allowance for people with a disability aged between 16 and 66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year. The person concerned must pass a medical exam, a means test and be habitually resident in Ireland to get the allowance.
No application for disability allowance has been received in my Department from the person concerned to date. Further information on disability allowance is available on my department’s website www.welfare.ie.
If the person concerned is unable to meet their needs or the needs of their household, they may be entitled to supplementary welfare allowance and should contact the Department's community welfare services at their local Intreo office.
85. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the status of an issue (details supplied) regarding shortage of funding for a service in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46831/15]
View answer103. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to clarify the statement made by a Minister (details supplied) in Seanad Éireann regarding extra supports being made available to community services programme companies in connection with the increase in the minimum wage; how these supports can be accessed; how much of a budget has been allocated to these specific supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1038/16]
View answer143. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the arrangements being made to assist companies in receipt of funding via the community services programme to enable contracted companies to meet the increased costs associated with staff payments and employee wages incurred as a result of the increase in the minimum wage which came into effect from 1 January 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1453/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 103 and 143 together.
The Department of Social Protection supports service provision through a number of programmes and schemes. The community services programme (CSP) provides financial support in the form a contribution to the cost of wages to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a social inclusion nature not otherwise provided. These community companies operate on a community business or social enterprise model. Companies supported by the CSP are funded on the basis that they are allowed to generate and use income from the services they provide to pay staff, meet overhead costs and to contribute to their future development. The CSP provides a contribution to the wage cost on the basis that the services are not fully self-financing or the cost of provision would be prohibitive on users. The Department does not set the wage rate but requires the payment of appropriate wage rates consistent with local norms.
Companies employing some 2,800 employees are directly supported by the programme. At the end of 2015, the Department estimates that some 60% of these employees are paid above the level of the minimum wage, in keeping with the social inclusion and social benefit objectives of the programme. The Department is committed to working with the remaining companies to achieve the objective of paying a reasonable wage.
Contracts of up to three year duration are provided for under the CSP. Arrangements whereby individual companies will be able access additional financial resources to compensate for the welcome increased in the minimum wage are being put in place. Submissions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis with the annual funding commitment being adjusted accordingly where it is found to be warranted. An advance of 25% of the contract commitments for 2016 has or is in the course of being paid to companies currently in contract under the programme.
I am satisfied that the level of resources available to the CSP in 2016 at just over €45 million will be adequate to meet the ongoing funding needs of the programme.
